Testing

Testing days will have a modified bell and bus schedule.  Students taking the AIMS are expected to arrive at school by 7:40 a.m. and remain the entire school day.  Students not taking the AIMS are expected to arrive at the scheduled time to be announced at a later date.

AIMS Retakes – 11th and 12th grade students who need to re-take the AIMS Writing, Reading, and Math MUST test on the scheduled testing days this school year.  Re-takes are for those students who have not yet passed.  Students who choose to re-take TO EXCEED any of the three AIMS exams in this year MUST sign up in the counseling office.  For proctoring purposes and room scheduling, the last day to sign up to EXCEED to re-take will be on August 28, 2008 for the fall semester.  Otherwise, your child will be put on a waiting list for re-taking to exceed pending room availability.

Revisions to the State University Tuition Waiver - UPDATE 08-07
Beginning with students graduating in 2009, only AIMS HS results from a student’s sophomore and junior year will be considered when determining eligibility for the High Honors Tuition Waiver.  This means that students will need to “Exceed” on AIMS during their sophomore or junior year to qualify if students are graduating after 2008.

Personalized AIMS Study Guide - The Arizona Department of Education provides a service that allows students who have taken but not yet passed the AIMS Writing, Reading and or Math exams to create a personalized study guide.  Click here for more information. 

AIMS Augmentation -UPDATE 08-07 The state statute authorizing AIMS augmentation is set for automatic repeal on January 1, 2008.  AIMS Augmentation is available to students who receive a diploma dated in 2007.  For students with diplomas dated in 2008, AIMS Augmentation is
not an option.  So, students completing their high school course
work in 2008 and later must pass all three content areas of AIMS
HS in order to graduate.

The state statute that exempts students with IEPs and 504 plans from the AIMS graduation requirement remains in place however students with IEPs and 504 plans must still take the test.  The state statute that authorizes AIMS Reciprocity remains in place.

Students with IEPs and Section 504 Plans - Students with IEPs or 504 Plans shall not be required to achieve passing scores on competency tests in order to graduate from high school unless a passing score on a competency test is specifically required in a specific academic area by the student's IEP or 504 Plan. Guidelines regarding this change will be posted once developed. For further information, go to the ADE's AIMS and Special Education Students FAQ.

AIMS Reciprocity - Students transferring to SMHS from out-of-state will not have to take the AIMS exam if they have already passed that state's assessment test. Please click on the following links to view the guidelines and lists of approved state tests: AIMS HS Reciprocity List - Math and AIMS HS Reciprocity List - Reading and Writing.

Further Questions and Information About AIMS - For questions about the AIMS exam, please go to the Arizona Department of Education website or call the AIMS Hotline at 1 (866) 688-AIMS. For questions and information about AIMS testing at SMHS, call 602.449-3017 or e-mail one of the site testing coordinators.

TerraNova Exam Schedule for second semester - The Terra Nova exams will be given to the freshman Class of 2012 in April. 

Testing days will have a modified schedule.  Students taking the AIMS are expected to arrive at school by 7:40 a.m. and remain until 2 p.m.  Students not taking the AIMS are expected to arrive at 10:45 a.m.